Chelsea linked with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Aug 10, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Chelsea head coach Jose Mourinho before the game against AS Roma at RFK Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Frederiksen-USA TODAY Sports

Chelsea has been heavily linked with a move for the Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. They have recently signed Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa in a 32 million pound deal, and are supposedly looking for a second striker to back him up. Although they hold Romelu Lukaku in their ranks rumors are growing that manager Jose Mourinho does not fancy him, and is looking to permanently sell the Belgian.

Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang is a very pacey forward player with an eye for goal. He bagged “37 goals” (Soccer base) for the French club St Etienne and subsequently made the move to Dortmund last season. I watched Aubameyang closely last season and he showed flashes of a top striker. Aubameyang likes to break on the counter attack with his pace, and keep the ball on the floor. He tends to cut inside a lot rather than darting to the bi line which sometimes causes him to make the game a bit narrow. Furthermore Aubameyang likes to make short passes with the ball and catch defenses off guard via 1-2 passes with his teammates. However Aubameyang is a poor crosser of the ball, and has poor offside awareness. There is nothing more annoying than a striker who is constantly offside; just ask Arsenal fans about Emmanuel Adebayor.

The 25 year old is a player who would fit nicely into Mourinho’s system especially if he plays a 4-3-3 this upcoming season which is expected. Aubameyang is a versatile forward who can play on the left or the right by utilizing his pace, and he is a good set piece taker. Aubameyang’s pace enables him to track back which Mourinho would surely utilize on the wings. In addition he could play up front with Diego Costa if needed, which could prove to be deadly for opponents as the two would pose a constant attacking threat.

Borussia Dortmund general manager Michael Zorc has come out today and said that “Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a player of Borussia Dortmund. We have received nothing in this respect” (Skysports football). Although with social media we get a much better sense of how transfer rumors work. Supposedly Chelsea was in advanced negotiations with Dortmund for Aubameyang in a bargain deal worth 7 million pounds. With Mourinho looking to improve his strike force, this story is one to keep an eye on.